[1]JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)–Southern Baptists in Florida and elsewhere have been called to raise their “collected voices” Feb. 14 on behalf of “the hurting people of Haiti as they try to recover from one of the most devastating disasters in the Western Hemisphere.”
John Sullivan, executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention, issued the call to prayer Feb. 2 to ask for God’s mercy and strength as Haitians recover from the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake that affected 3.5 million people and killed more than 200,000 men, women and children.
“By lifting our voices in intercession for the people of Haiti, we can petition God’s intervention in this desperate time of trial and tribulation,” Sullivan said. “Through prayer we can have a life-changing impact upon the helpless, homeless and hopeless people of Haiti. We must pray for their physical and spiritual well-being in the days to come.”
Sullivan has traveled to Haiti more than a dozen times, overseeing the work of Florida Baptists in their 15-year partnership with Haitian Baptists. As a result of that partnership, nearly 900 new churches have been planted.
“I never go to Haiti that my life is not changed,” Sullivan said. “I believe they are some of the sweetest people on the face of this earth. They have so little in the eyes of the world. Those who have found the grace of Jesus Christ are filled with a simple joy reminiscent of the early New Testament Christians.
“We can change their plight through prayer,” Sullivan added.
[2]Prayer will be one of Southern Baptists’ greatest tools as they respond to the disaster, said Craig Culbreth, director of Florida’s Partnership Missions Department.
“While not everyone can travel to Haiti, we can all pray,” said Culbreth, who has traveled to Haiti twice since the Jan. 12 quake.
Culbreth suggested several guidelines of prayer:
— Pray for the Haitian people in Haiti as they struggle with the fear that the earthquake has brought to them and pray for those who struggle and grieve for the loss of relatives, friends, homes and jobs.
— Pray for their daily needs of food, water and shelter. Pray that the Great Physician will heal their suffering.”
— Pray for peace to overcome the fear that keeps them from returning inside their homes.”
— Pray that Haiti will become a spiritual harvest field where the Gospel will be received so lives will be changed. Not just for one day but forever.”
— Pray that God will help Southern Baptist disaster responders overcome obstacles as they meet urgent needs.
— Pray for the challenge of access into Port-au-Prince by air and sea, transportation within the country and facilities to house relief workers.
A video and bulletin insert will be available for download on the Florida Baptist Convention’s website, www.flbaptist.org.
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Barbara Denman is director of communications for the Florida Baptist Convention.
Southern Baptists can contribute to “Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief” through their local church or directly to their state convention, the North American Mission Board (www.namb.net) or the International Mission Board (www.imb.org):
— The North American Mission Board has set up a Haiti disaster relief fund that will direct money to state conventions and other Southern Baptists who are doing relief work in Haiti. Donations may be made online, www.NAMB.net, by phone, 1-866-407-6262, or by mail, North American Mission Board, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. Make checks payable to “Haiti Disaster Relief Fund/NAMB.”
— Initial funding for the relief effort will come from the International Mission Board’s disaster relief fund. Contributions can be made online, www.imb.org, or by mail, International Mission Board, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230.
Regardless of the SBC channel, all funds received for this purpose will go to relief efforts; none will be used for administrative costs.
Baptist Global Response is located on the Internet at www.gobgr.org.